The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

We read and listened to Ms Didion's book, the Year of Magical Thinking and both book clubs praised the book and were amazed at the the words and "the music". I am a fan of Joan Didion and she can do nothing to alter my devotion to her. That may sound over the top...but, I have been a fan since the first book that I read by her; Play It As It Lays. And, I have looked forward to anything and everything she writes. I have to admit that her nonfiction pleases more than her novels. I read her when I was a young woman and now I am old...I feel we have aged together on this planet.
I am looking forward to her next book; Blue Nights.
I have read other bloggers that hold her in high esteem (as I do) and some bloggers who think she is "cold" and" icy".
Obviously, I do not agree with the latter blogggers. I do not know of any other author who gives so much of herself and yet, does it truthfully and boldly. Perhps some think that is "cold" but that is the best journalism/writing.
"the question of pity...".

The Book Thief...It stole our hearts.

The Evening Club loved this book! It is a joy to read. We loved the characters and the way the book was written.

It is unfortunate that it is considered a Young Adult (YA) book. It is shelved in the YA area of the library and adults very rarely browse there.

It was made YA because it has a 13 year old protagonist. The Book is for all ages...and mostly for adults.

We decided to get the word out about this book...It is a book for everyone to read.

We fell in love with Mama and Papa and Rudy and Leisel and, Max. This story is about Germany during Hitler's reign and we see Germany from the eyes and heart of a young Christian girl. It could not have beeen told better.
I wonder what the Morning club will say about this book....to be continued...

Eat, Pray, Love....Elizabeth Gilbert

It has been awhile since I have posted. I am glad to be back.

Ms G ilbert's book was chosen for the book club because it has never stopped being on the best seller list (now on paperback best sellers), the reviews were very favorable, all the libraries owned copies and, Julia Roberts was going to play her in the new movie.

Now that it has been read and discussed, I think Julia will bring more dignity and grace to the role than the role will demand.

The Evening book Club was torn...some liked the romance...and the rest of us want to tell Ms Gilbert that even though it is a book about her...IT IS NOT REALLY ALL ABOUT YOU!

In Cold Blood

The book clubs' discussions for Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" were hot and heavy...so much to talk about. We discussed Capital Punishment, Good and Evil and Nature vs. Nurture...and then we got into the heavy stuff.
We agreed that it was Capote's finest and that he was able to weave a tale of murder without it (the tale) being sensational or prurient.
I had forgotten how good he was. His last decades of his life were not happy or productive. We wondered if the murders helped to bring his drug addiction out of control.

Liar's Club

Both book clubs have discussed The Liar's Club by Mary Karr and thought the book well written and worth reading. Most of us were upset by the violence and bad parenting in the children's lives and had a difficult time reading about the sexual abuse.
Even so, Mary's parents were creative (her mother) and wonderful storytellers (her father).
We pondered the title and wondered if maybe Mary Karr was a full grown member of that club now.

Independence Day by Rchard Ford

The Morning book club has just finished discussing "Independence Day" and most of us were pleased with the book. I had to admit that after 100 or so pages, I felt like screaming, "Where's the plot"? But, after 200 more pages, one is deeply immersed in the book and the plot less beginning has a point. There is method here! Ford does not let us connect with Frank Bascombe until he begins to have connections with others in the book...when he begins to live and not merely exist.
Some of the members will move on to the next book in the trilogy...I am not sure I will.

Lillian Hellman and cake

Our September evening book club meeting celebrated our discussion club's 10th anniversary with a delicious cake and musings about our "history".
We discussed "Scoundrel Time" by Lillian Hellman and we decided that a discussion of the McCarthy Hearings was politically apropos. Interestingly, one member did not know of the House Committee on Anti-American Activities and learned a lot from our animated discussion.
Hellman appeared before the committee (scared but brave) and was one of the few who did not list her friends who belonged to groups that might be considered "un-American".
We all wondered if we would have been as brave but, we were sure she chose the correct path.
Her famous quote was appreciated and applauded: "I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions."